An, conj., in O. Edd. mostly written and, but sometimes also an, f. i. LLL V, 2, 232. LLL V, 2, 232 H4A II, 1, 1. H5 IV, 7, 96. H6B V, 1, 72. Caes. IV, 3, 258. M. Edd. have often been too rash in changing and to an, f.i. Err. IV, 1, 43. Mids. III, 2, 78. H4A I, 3, 125. H5 II, 4, 120. Troil. III, 2, 149. 3, 256. Tit. II, 1, 69 etc.
1) if; followed by the indic. as well as the subj. mood: Err. I, 2, 94. II, 2, 36. III, 1, 39. Ado I, 1, 80. Ado I, 1, 80 Ado I, 1, 80 III, 3, 91. LLL II, 248. III, 103. IV, 1, 49. V, 1, 74. Mids. I, 2, 53. Mids. I, 2, 53 IV, 2, 21. Merch. V, 176. H4B I, 1, 13 etc. etc. Of very frequent occurrence in the phrase “an it please you:” Wiv. II, 2, 37. Meas. II, 1, 205. Merch. II, 2, 61. H6B I, 3, 18. “an please you,” H6A V, 4, 10. “an't shall please you,” LLL I, 1, 273. V, 2, 584. Merch. II, 4, 10 (Q1 if). H6B I, 3, 190. “an't like you,” Tp. IV, 239. Meas. II, 1, 169. V, 74, etc. etc.
2) if but: “it is best put finger in the eye, an she knew why,” Shr. I, 1, 79. Tp. II, 1, 181. John II, 136.
3) though: “an thou wert a lion, we would do so,” LLL V, 2, 627. Merch. I, 2, 96. H6B IV, 7, 112.
4) In vulgar language == whether: “to spy an I can hear my Thisby's face,” Mids. V, 195. and == as if: “I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale,” Mids. I, 2, 86. H5 II, 3, 11. Troil. I, 2, 139. Troil. I, 2, 139
An if == if: Tp. II, 2, 120. V, 117. Gentl. I, 1, 75. III, 1, 257. Err. IV, 3, 76. Ado V, 1, 178. LLL I, 1, 50. IV, 1, 137. V, 2, 32. V, 2, 32 Mids. II, 2, 153. Merch. IV, 1, 445. V, 159. As II, 5, 59. All's II, 1, 74. H6A III, 1, 153. IV, 6, 36. H6B II, 1, 124. 3, 74. H6C I, 1, 137. Oth. III, 4, 83 etc.
What an if == though: “what an if his sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits,” Tit. IV, 4, 9.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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